Fundamental Errors of the New Natural Law Theory
Steven A Longvisibility
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28 pages
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This essay argues that the new natural law theory (NNLT) propounds National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly -Humanae vitae.
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Fundamental Errors of the
New Natural Law Theory
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Abstract. This essay argues that the new natural law theory (NNLT) propounds
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LONG = FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS OF THE NNLT
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THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC BIOETHICS QUARTERLY = SPRING 2013
While the speculative may be considered in precision from the practical, the
converse is never true, because the practical implicitly and actually presupposes the
speculative. Hence, the effort to separate from the speculative, for methodological
purposes, and then reconnect later, is badly misconceived from the outset."Rtkqt"
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derogates the essentially theocentric and theonomic character of the doctrine of
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Negation of Unified Normative Natural Teleology:
The Error of “Incommensurability”
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338
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the loss of the transcendence of the common good 4: and the loss of the theocentric
and theonomic character of natural law.
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339
THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC BIOETHICS QUARTERLY = SPRING 2013
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120
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THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC BIOETHICS QUARTERLY = SPRING 2013
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qh"vjg"yknn"ku"ncemkpi0"Eqpugswgpvn{."pq"gxkn"fqpg"ykvj"c"iqqf"kpvgpvkqp"ecp"
dg"gzewugf0"ÒVjgtg"ctg"vjqug"yjq"uc{<"Cpf"yj{"pqv"fq"gxkn"vjcv"iqqf"oc{"
eqogA"Vjgkt"eqpfgopcvkqp"ku"lwuvÓ"*Tqo"5<:+0Ñ 52
Kp"ujqtv."kv"ku"pqv"ogtgn{"cu"c"rj{ukecn"fcvwo."dwv"cu"vjg"fgnkdgtcvg"ejqkeg"qh"
vjg"cigpv"vjcv"vjg"fkuqtfgt"qh"cp"cevkqp"ku"oqtcnn{"gxkn."rtgekugn{"dgecwug"kv"ku"cnyc{u"
ytqpi"vq"ejqqug"egtvckp"v{rgu"qh"cevkqp"kttgurgevkxg"qpgÓu"hwtvjgt"kpvgpvkqp0"Vjwu."
Cswkpcu"qdugtxgu"vjcv"Ðkv"qhvgp"jcrrgpu"vjcv"ocp"cevu"ykvj"c"iqqf"kpvgpvkqp."dwv"
ykvjqwv"urktkvwcn"ickp."dgecwug"jg"ncemu"c"iqqf"yknn0"Ngv"wu"uc{"vjcv"uqogqpg"tqdu"kp"
qtfgt"vq"hggf"vjg"rqqt<"kp"vjku"ecug."gxgp"vjqwij"vjg"kpvgpvkqp"ku"iqqf."vjg"upright
51
52
Lqjp"Rcwn"KK."Veritatis splendor"*Cwiwuv"8."3;;5+."p09:0
Kdkf0
349
THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC BIOETHICS QUARTERLY = SPRING 2013
pguu"qh"vjg"yknn"ku"ncemkpi0"Eqpugswgpvn{."pq"gxkn"fqpg"ykvj"c"iqqf"kpvgpvkqp"ecp"dg"
gzewugf0Ñ"
Vjg"yjqng"ctiwogpv"qh"vjqug"yjq"ekvg"Veritatis splendor p0"9:"cu"cp"ctiwogpv"
lwuvkh{kpi"kpvgpvkqpcnkuo"tgukfgu"kp"vjg"gttqpgqwu"xkgy"vjcv"dgecwug"vjg"qdlgev"qh"vjg"
oqtcn"cev"ku"pqv"ogtgn{"cpf"tgfwevkxgn{"rj{ukecn."vjgtghqtg"vjg"kpvgitcn"pcvwtg"cpf"per
se ghhgevu"qh"vjg"cevkqp"ejqugp"ctg"pqv"kpenwfgf"ykvjkp"vjg"qdlgev"qh"vjg"oqtcn"cev"cpf"
uq"oc{"dg"fkutgictfgf"cu"etcuun{"rj{ukecn"cpf"uwdtcvkqpcn0"Dwv"vq"uc{"vjcv"vjg"qdlgev"
qh"oqtcn"cevkqp"ku"pqv"ogtgn{"c"rj{ukecn"fcvwo"ku"pqv"vq"uc{"vjcv"qwt"fgnkdgtcvg"oqtcn"
ejqkegu"cpf"cevkqpu"fq"pqv"gzvgpf"vq"vjg"godtceg"qh"rctvkewnct"oqtcn"ecwucnkvkgu0"Kh"
K"fgukip"vq"ejqqug"cpf"gpcev"cu"c"ogcpu"uqog"cevkqp"vjcv"vgtokpcvgu"fktgevn{"kp"cp"
kppqegpv"uq"cu"vq"jcto"vjcv"rgtuqp."K"ecppqv"htgg"o{ugnh"qh"oqtcn"ewnrcdknkv{"hqt"vjku"
fktgev"jcto"K"jcxg"ejqugp"ogtgn{"dgecwug"K"co"uggmkpi"uqog"qvjgt"iqqf"cpf"gzenwfg"
vjg"gxkn"ecwucnkv{"htqo"vjg"fguetkrvkqp"qh"o{"cevkqp0"
Uwrrqug"vjcv"uqogqpg"ygtg"kp"c"swgwg"hqt"c"nkhgucxkpi"vjgtcr{."rtgegfgf"d{"
ugxgtcn"qvjgtu."dwv"ykvj"c"rtqipquku"uq"nkokvgf"vjcv"kv"uggogf"jg"yqwnf"pqv"nkxg"nqpi"
gpqwij"vq"tgegkxg"vjgtcr{0"Ygtg"vjku"rtqurgevkxg"rcvkgpv"vq"mknn"qpg"qh"vjqug"kp"nkpg"
cjgcf"qh"jko"vq"tgoqxg"vjg"korgfkogpv"vq"tgegkxkpi"vtgcvogpv."yqwnf"vjku"cevkqp"
ogtgn{" dg" qpg" qh" Ðtgoqxkpi" qduvcengu" vq" nkhgucxkpi" vjgtcr{AÑ" Uwtgn{" vjku" okijv"
cfgswcvgn{"fgrkev"vjg"cigpvÓu"rtqrqucn"hqt"cevkqp"kp"vgtou"qh"vjg"ratio qh"vjg"crrg
vkdknkv{"qh"vjg"cev"vq"vjg"cigpv"cpf"vjg"kpvgpvkqp"qh"vjg"gpf0"Rgtjcru"vjg"cigpv"cevu"kp"
vjku"yc{"ykvj"itcxg"tgnwevcpeg"cpf"fkuvcuvg."uqngn{"dgecwug"vjku"ku"vjg"qpn{"ocppgt"
qh"qdvckpkpi"nkhgucxkpi"vjgtcr{0"Dwv"oqtcnn{."yqwnf"pqv"uwej"cp"cevkqp"eqpuvkvwvg"
ytqpihwn"jqokekfgA"
Vjg"fguetkrvkqp"qh"cp"cigpvÓu"kpvgpvkqp"kp"jku"rtqrqucn"hqt"cevkqp"ku"kpuwhÝekgpv"
vq"eqpuvkvwvg"vjg"qdlgev"qh"vjg"cev"wpnguu"kv"kpenwfgu"vjg"kpvgitcn"pcvwtg"cpf"per se
ghhgevu"qh"vjg"ejqugp"cevkqp0"Vjg"kpvgitcn"pcvwtg"cpf"per se"ghhgevu"qh"vjg""ejqugp"
cevkqp"ctg"kpenwfgf"kp"vjg"qdlgev."dgecwug"kp"ejqqukpi"uwej"cp"cevkqp"cu"ogcpu"vjg"
will goes out to that action and its per se ghhgevu0"Cnvjqwij"yg"ecp"citgg"vjcv"vjku"
qeewtu"wpfgt"vjg"curgev"qt"hqtocn"ratio"qh"vjg"kpvgpvkqp"qh"cp"gpf."vjg"tguwnv"ku"vjg"
ucog0"Vjwu."vjg"qpg"yjq"owtfgtu"vjqug"kp"htqpv"qh"jko"kp"vjg"swgwg"hqt"nkhgucxkpi"
vjgtcr{."uq"vjcv"jg"jcu"c"ejcpeg"vq"tgegkxg"kv"kp"vkog"vq"ucxg"jku"nkhg."ku"qpg"yjq"
ejqqugu"vq"fq"owtfgt"hqt"vjg"ucmg"qh"tgoqxkpi"korgfkogpvu"vq"nkhgucxkpi"vjgtcr{0"
Vjku"ku"vq"uc{"vjcv"vjg"qdlgev"ku"pqv"ogtgn{"c"ÐrqukvÑ"qt"ÐrtqrqucnÑ"qt"Ðkpvgpvkqp.Ñ"dwv"
is what is done under the ratio qh"vjg"gpf"uqwijv0"Ceeqtfkpin{."vjg"gpf"uqwijv"cpf"
the ratio qh"vjg"crrgvkdknkv{"qh"vjg"cev"vq"vjg"cigpv"fq"pqv"uwhÝeg"vq"ocmg"vjg"pcvwtg"
qh"cevkqp"oqtcnn{"kttgngxcpv."pqt"ku"vjg"pcvwtg"qh"htggn{"ejqugp"cevkqp"c"ogtgn{"cpf"
etcuun{"rj{ukecn"fcvwo"vjcv"ku"qh"pq"oqtcn"ukipkÝecpeg0"[gv"hqt"vjg"PPNV."qpn{"yjcv"
ku"kpenwfgf"kp"vjg"rtqrqucn"qpg"hqtowncvgu."cpf"pqv"vjg"kpvgitcn"pcvwtg"cpf"per se
ghhgevu"qh"ejqugp"cevkqp."ku"jgnf"vq"dg"guugpvkcn"vq"vjg"qdlgev"qh"vjg"cev0
Vjg"xgt{"ncpiwcig"qh"Veritatis splendor p0"9:"ku"eqpvtct{"vq"vjg"PPNV"tgcfkpi"
kpcuowej"cu"kv"gorjcuk¦gu"vjcv"no matter how laudable one’s intention may be, it
cannot justify the choice to perform certain types of action0"Engctn{."yjgvjgt"qpg"ku"
rgthqtokpi"cp"cev"qh"uwej"c"v{rg"ku"pqv"ogtgn{"c"hwpevkqp"qh"yjgvjgt"qpg"ecp"hqtyctf"
c"rtqrqucn"hqt"cevkqp"yjqug"fguetkrvkqp"cxqkfu"ogpvkqpkpi"vjg"v{rg"qh"cevkqp"vjcv"ku"
ejqugp0"Vjgug"Ðv{rguÑ"ctg"pqv"vjgougnxgu"ogtg"hwpevkqpu"qh"vjg"cigpvÓu"description<"
vjg{"ctg"hwpevkqpu"qh"vjg"pcvwtg"qh"vjg"cevkqp"kvugnh"cu"cp"qdlgev"qh"ejqkeg. which is
34:
LONG = FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS OF THE NNLT
kttgfwekdng"vq"rj{ukecn"ecwucnkv{"dwv"fqgu"pqv"gzenwfg"kv"qt"gzkuv"ykvjqwv"kv0"Kh"vjg"
cigpv"jkougnh"ÐeqpuvkvwvguÑ"vjg"oqtcn"qdlgev"yjqng/enqvj."vjgp"vjgtg"ku"rtgekugn{"pq"
pqto"yjcvuqgxgt"hqt"jwocp"cevkqp."cpf"vjg"rcuucigu"qh"Veritatis splendor p0"9:"vjcv"
kpfkecvg"uwej"c"pqto"tguvtckpkpi"ejqkeg"yqwnf"dg"xckp"cpf"qvkqug."vcpvcoqwpv"vq"vjg"
fktgevkqp"vjcv"qpg"oc{"pqv"cev"wpfgt"c"egtvckp"description"*ÐK"co"pqv"uwhhqecvkpi"c"
ejknf."K"co"rtgxgpvkpi"f{pcuvke"ekxkn"yctÑ+0"Dwv"vjg"yjqng"Ecvjqnke"oqtcn"vtcfkvkqp"
vgcejgu"vjcv"qpg"oc{"pqv"ejqqug"cevkqpu"qh"c"egtvckp"pcvwtg"kttgurgevkxg"qpgÓu"hwtvjgt"
kpvgpvkqp"qt"rtghgttgf"fguetkrvkqp"qh"cevkqp0""
Kv"ujqwnf"dg"engct"vjcv"hqt"qpg"rncwukdn{"vq"kpvgtrtgv"c"rcrcn"gpe{enkecn"cu"xkvkcv
kpi"vjg"rtkqt"wpfgtuvcpfkpi"qh"vjg"EjwtejÓu"oqtcn"vtcfkvkqp"tgswktgu"hct"oqtg"vjcp"
c"fwdkqwu"cpf"kpvgpukxgn{"eqpvtqxgtvkdng"cpcn{uku"qh"qpg"nkpg"qh"cp"gpe{enkecn0"Dwv"
vjg"nkpg"qh"vjg"gpe{enkecn"ku"pqv"gxgp"qduewtg<"kp"xkgykpi"cevkqp"htqo"vjg"xkgyrqkpv"
qh"vjg"cigpv."qpg"owuv"pqv"eqpukfgt"yjcv"ku"fqpg"cnqpg"dwv"vjg"ratio under which it
is done. This does not at all reduce vjg"qdlgev"ogtgn{"vq"vjg"ratio under which the
cigpv"rgthqtou"jku"cevkqp."dgecwug"vjg"qdlgev"qh"vjg"cigpvÓu"cevkqp"ku"pqv"ogtgn{"vjg"
ratio"qh"vjg"cevÓu"crrgvkvkdknkv{"vq"vjg"cigpv."dwv"cnuq"vjg"oqtcnn{"ukipkÝecpv"ecwucnkv{"
qh"vjg"cevkqp"vq"yjkej"jku"yknn"fgnkdgtcvgn{"gzvgpfu"kp"ejqkeg"cpf"cevkqp0"
Qh"eqwtug."qvjgt"gzcorngu"ctg"eqooqpn{"dtqwijv"hqtyctf"kp"hcxqt"qh"vjg"PPNV"
cpcn{uku0"Kv"ku"pqv"wpwuwcn"vq"jgct"vjg"ctiwogpv"vjcv"cpcnigukeu"wugf"kp"ectkpi"hqt"
vgtokpcn"rcvkgpvu"hwpevkqp"fktgevn{"dqvj"yjgp"kpvgpfgf"hqt"vjg"ucmg"qh"mknnkpi"vjg"
rcvkgpv"kp"cp"cev"qh"gwvjcpcukc"cpf"yjgp"kpvgpfgf"ogtgn{"hqt"vjg"ucmg"qh"rckp"tgnkgh"
*yjgp"vjg{"oc{"ceekfgpvcnn{"urggf"vjg"fgcvj"qh"vjg"tgekrkgpv+0"Yjcv"vjgp"ku"vjg"fkh
hgtgpegA"Kp"vjg"rgtokuukdng"wug"qh"cpcnigukeu."fgcvj"ku"fgpqokpcvgf"cu"ceekfgpvcn"
pqv"ogtgn{"dgecwug"kv"ku"pqv"kpvgpfgf"cu"cp"gpf."dwv"cnuq"dgecwug"vjg"ejqugp"fqucig"
ku"ugngevgf"rtgekugn{"cu"pqv"mpqycdn{"uwhÝekgpv"vq"mknn="vjgtghqtg."vjg"fgcvj"ku"tkijvn{"
lwfigf"vq"dg"ceekfgpvcn0"
Vjg"etkvkecn"rqkpv"ku"guvcdnkujgf"d{"cumkpi"vjg"hqnnqykpi<"Itcpvgf"vjcv"hqt"uwh
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yc{"vjcv"tkumu"ujqtvgpkpi"nkhgÏku"kv"nkekv"vq"cfokpkuvgt"c"fqucig"qh"cpcnigukeu"engctn{"
uwhÝekgpv"koogfkcvgn{"vq"mknn"vjg"tgekrkgpvA"Yjkng"qpg"oc{"lwuvkh{"vjg"cfokpkuvtcvkqp"
qh"cp"coqwpv"qh"oqtrjkpg"uwhÝekgpv"vq"fkokpkuj"rckp."ygcmgpkpi"vjg"rcvkgpv"cpf"
kpxqnxkpi"c"jkijgt"tkum"qh"fgcvj"cu"c"tguwnv."vjku"ku"swkvg"fkhhgtgpv"htqo"cfokpkuvgtkpi"
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uggo"vjcv"vjg"wug"qh"vjg"gzcorng"qh"rckp"tgnkgh"hqt"vgtokpcn"rcvkgpvu"d{"vjg"fghgpf
gtu"qh"kpvgpvkqpcnkuo"ku"uqrjkuvkecn"kp"vjg"gzvtgog."fgrgpfkpi"qp"vjg"eqphqwpfkpi"qh"
uqogvjkpi"yjqnn{"ceekfgpvcn"vq"cp"cev"ykvj"uqogvjkpi"guugpvkcn"vq"kv0"Vq"ygcmgp"vjg"
rcvkgpv"kp"uggmkpi"vjg"iqqf"qh"rckp"tgnkgh."cpf"uq"vq"twp"c"jkijgt"tkum"qh"ceekfgpvcn"
fgcvj."ku"pqv"qh"kvugnh"vq"ejqqug"vq"kpvtqfweg"c"pgy"ecwug"qh"fgcvj."cpf"uq."hqt"uwh
Ýekgpv"tgcuqp."ku"lwuvkÝcdng0"
Pqvkeg"jqy."kp"vjg"ecug"qh"vjg"vtgcvogpv"qh"c"vgtokpcn"rcvkgpv."kv"ku"pqv"vjg"cev"
cu"ogtgn{"rj{ukecn."cu"kpvgpvkqpcnkuvu"cnngig"*pqv."kp"vjg"ncpiwcig"qh"Veritatis splen
dor p0"9:."Ðc"rtqeguu"qt"cp"gxgpv"qh"vjg"ogtgn{"rj{ukecn"qtfgt."vq"dg"cuuguugf"qp"vjg"
34;
THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC BIOETHICS QUARTERLY = SPRING 2013
basis qh"kvu"cdknkv{"vq"dtkpi"cdqwv"c"ikxgp"uvcvg"qh"chhcktu"kp"vjg"qwvukfg"yqtnfÑ+."dwv"
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tkumu"cvvgpwcvkpi"qt"ujqtvgpkpi"vjg"iqqf"qh"nkhg"cpf"kpetgcukpi"vjg"tkum"qh"fgcvj."cpf"
kh"vjgp"fgcvj"ceekfgpvcnn{"gpuwgu."vjku"ku"pqv"c"ytqpihwn"jqokekfg0"Jqygxgt."kh"qpg"
rtkpekrcnn{"uggmu"qpn{"rckp"tgnkgh"dwv"mpqykpin{"cfokpkuvgtu"c"fqucig"engctn{"uwh
Ýekgpv"koogfkcvgn{"vq"mknn."vjku"ku"qdlgevkxgn{"cp"cev"qh"cvvgorvgf"ytqpihwn"jqokekfg"
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rcvkgpv"pqv"fkg"cu"c"tguwnv"dgecwug."kp"ejqqukpi"c"fqucig"qh"kvugnh"lwfigf"vq"dg"ngvjcn"
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yjqnn{"qvjgt"vjcp"cevkpi"fktgevn{"vq"ecwug"fgcvj0"C"tgcnkuv"tcvjgt"vjcp"nqikekuv"ceeqwpv"
qh"vjg"qdlgev"qh"oqtcn"cevkqp"kpenwfgu"pqv"qpn{"vjg"cigpvÓu"kfgcvkqpcn"rtqrqucn"hqt"
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vq"vjg"ejknf"ku"pgkvjgt"vjg"rtkpekrcn"tgcuqp"hqt"cevkpi"nor does the action directly
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tgpfgtu"vjg"jcto"vjcv"gpuwgu"vq"vjg"ejknf"rtgfkevcdng."dwv"tcvjgt"vjg"hcev"vjcv"vjg"ejknf"
uggokpin{"ku"yjgtg"kv"ecppqv"dg"uwuvckpgf"kp"nkhg"cpf"ecppqv"dg"oqxgf"vq"cp{"rnceg"
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vjg"ejknfÓu"jgcf"ku"fktgevn{"cpf"fgnkdgtcvgn{"etwujgf="jqy"fkhhgtgpv"htqo"cdqtvkqp."kp"
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